First Date.....(Flashback)

Do you remember your first date?

Stop reading this long enough to pause and think back...

Try hard to recall...

Let's see...maybe it was back in '67...or was it '72...maybe in 2003 for a few of you...

I remember my first date...just like it was yesterday...it was - 

             February 22, 2020

I remember where too - we went to the China Ranch.

I'm sure it was my first date...alas, Judy said it was not hers...

Ahhh, but that first date was memorable...

And we both liked it...so much in fact, we had another date right after the first!

Yup, that first date, and our second were both at The China Ranch Date Farm in Tecopa.

So good they were - that we bought a pound of them...and kept them in the refrigerator in The Fox!

Seems that back in the day...like in 1900...a China man (that's what the sign said) figured out that dates would grow in the desert...in Tecopa, and the China Ranch Date Farm was created.

They've been growing them ever since, with a date store on site, a bakeshop, a museum, some old boarded up mines and the best part - 

Self maintained hiking trails on the ranch and adjacent property!

Having heard about, but never before having seen a slot canyon, we picked our route...an easy 2 miles along a dry river bed.

Fun hike, no hills to climb, and it held surprising scenery and it was February - part of the cool and rainy season in Tecopa (keep that thought in mind).

The scenery truly was beautiful.  Tecopa, and the China Ranch are very close to Death Valley...think hot and dry.

So little vegetation to cover the hillsides.

It's the rocks and minerals which provide the color...high contrast and stark.

STOP and look closely at the photos. 

They are posted in chronological order.

Go back and study the sky in each...

The goal was to reach the slot canyon seen behind Judy, who is standing in the dry river bed. 

Once inside the canyon, sheer size and immensity become apparent. 

And the worn smooth rock tells of the power of rushing water.

Now, February in Tecopa is rainy season.

As we walked that dry stream bed, getting closer and closer to the destination - thunder started to rumble and echo in the distance...and it was growing closer...

...and then it started to sprinkle as we entered the slot canyon...

It's interesting how the mind works...

All I could imagine while in that canyon was a wall of water rushing our way.

All the spidey senses were focused on that potential event...

          ...to hear the sound of running water...

          ...to feel the ground quiver and shake from the force...

          ...to smell the acrid air when water meets dry desert...

          ...to see some indication before it became a disaster...

We didn't stay long in the canyon...

When we came out, there was a bit more brief rain, but the very real thunder storm had parted around us...and reformed after it traveled past.

And it provided some spectacular photo opportunities...

With enough drama to make that first date very memorable! 

Let the adventure continue...